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Inside the Outdoors of the Entertainment District

Before and After Shot of Flowers on Bremner Blvd 2013. (CNW Group/Toronto Entertainment District Business Improvement Area) Facebook Twitter Pinterest

Before and After Shot of Flowers on Bremner Blvd 2013. (CNW Group/Toronto Entertainment District Business Improvement Area)

TORONTO, July 31, 2013 /CNW/ - Businesses in Toronto's Entertainment
District BIA (TOED BIA) are blooming around the Entertainment
District's 55 plus patios. It is all thanks to record breaking summer
temperatures and the District's 579 newly planted flower baskets.

Outdoor improvements, over the course of 5 years, have seen urban
gardening in the District go from ad hoc garden projects to a more
balanced decoration of the area. Over 12,000 beautifully designed
plants now grow from patios, planters, street-side boxes and hanging
baskets throughout the District.

The TOED BIA's outdoor beautification campaign stemmed from its
membership's collective desire to contribute to the character of the
neighbourhood and to encourage residents and visitors to spend time
outdoors in the Entertainment District. Using small cuttings sourced
from North America, the TOED BIA project began when the plants were
cultivated in an Ontario greenhouse complex in early February before
being installed in the Entertainment District in late May.

The District by numbers:

Number of poles with flowers: 570

Number of streets with flowers: 25

Number of planters: 78

Number of flower baskets: 579

Number of petunias: 6,000

For Janice Solomon, Executive Director, TOED BIA "…there is a wonderful
sense of community in the TOED, and the patios are an influential part
of creating and encouraging residents and visitors to feel connected to
the area and the energy of the city. The floral decorations have
transformed the Entertainment District into an outdoor oasis, detailing
the picturesque views seen from the neighbourhood's patios."

The beautification campaign has increased the quality of the patio
experience, from panoramic views at the Tap House or Crocodile Rock
roof-top patios, to street-views from venues like Gabby's or Jack
Astor's. The initiative is further supported by Kate Hancock, General
Manager of the Ballroom (recently named among the best rooftop patios
in Toronto by blogTO), who commented that "It's a huge improvement to
the area and brings vibrancy to the community."

In addition to the floral arrangements, other outdoor improvements
include the installation of wayfinding icons throughout the District.
The icons will represent the five distinct areas of the District: the
Warehouse Area, the Theatre Area, the Commerce Area, the Events Area
and the Union Station Area. To date, 18 new light poles with decorative
icons have been installed in the Entertainment District.

About the Toronto Entertainment District Business Improvement Area:

Established in 2008, TOED's mandate is to promote, improve and preserve
a dynamic area of Toronto. Benefitting from economic, environmental and
social factors driving downtown growth, the Entertainment District is
in the midst of a renaissance, firmly establishing itself as a thriving
and vibrant district for living, creating, working and entertainment.
From the Air Canada Centre to the Four Seasons Centre for the
Performing Arts, the Entertainment District includes many of Toronto's
most iconic buildings. In the heart of the District is the CN Tower,
Steam Whistle Brewing, Ripley's Aquarium of Canada (Sept. 2013), Metro
Toronto Convention Centre, Rogers Centre, Roy Thomson Hall, Princess of
Wales Theatre, Royal Alexandra Theatre and TIFF Bell Lightbox.